Question 1

Which process is responsible for synthesizing RNA from a DNA template, and what enzyme catalyzes this reaction?

Accepted Answer

Transcription, catalyzed by RNA polymerase

Question 2

During eukaryotic transcription, which additional molecules are required for RNA polymerase to bind to the promoter?

Accepted Answer

Transcription factors

Question 3

A DNA template strand has the sequence 5'-ACTGCCAGGAAT-3'. What is the sequence of the corresponding mRNA strand (include directionality)?

Accepted Answer

5'-AUUCCUGGCAGU-3'

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the function of a spliceosome in eukaryotic cells?

Accepted Answer

It removes introns from pre-mRNA

Question 5

What is the correct order of events in the central dogma of molecular biology?

Accepted Answer

DNA → RNA → Protein

Question 6

Which modification is added to the 5' end of eukaryotic pre-mRNA during RNA processing?

Accepted Answer

5' cap (modified guanine nucleotide)

Question 7

Given the mRNA sequence 5'-AUGUCUUCGUUAUCCUUG-3', use the genetic code to determine the corresponding amino acid sequence.

Accepted Answer

Met-Ser-Ser-Leu-Ser-Leu

Question 8

Which of the following mutations is most likely to cause a frameshift in the resulting protein?

Accepted Answer

Deletion of one nucleotide

Question 9

What is the function of the release factor during translation?

Accepted Answer

It binds to the stop codon in the A site in place of a tRNA

Question 10

Which of the following statements about ribosomes is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Ribosomes join amino acids to form a polypeptide

Question 11

A particular triplet of bases in the template strand of DNA is 5'-AGT-3'. What would be the corresponding codon for the mRNA that is transcribed?

Accepted Answer

3'-UCA-5'

Question 12

Which of the following is a reversible form of post-translational modification that can activate or deactivate a protein?

Accepted Answer

Phosphorylation

Question 13

Which type of RNA contains codons that code for specific amino acids?

Accepted Answer

mRNA

Question 14

What is the consequence of a nonsense mutation in a gene?

Accepted Answer

Causes synthesis of a polypeptide chain to be terminated prematurely

Question 15

Which of the following sequences of nucleotides in the template strand of DNA would code for the polypeptide sequence Phe–Leu–Ile–Val?

Accepted Answer

3′–AAA–AAT–ATA–ACA–5′

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a property shared by RNA polymerase and DNA polymerase?

Accepted Answer

Can initiate strand synthesis

Question 17

During translation, the ribosome moves along the mRNA in which direction?

Accepted Answer

5' to 3' direction of mRNA

Question 18

Which of the following processes occurs in eukaryotic gene expression?

Accepted Answer

A cap is added to the 5′ end of the mRNA

Question 19

Which of the following mutations is LEAST likely to be deleterious?

Accepted Answer

Replacement of a codon specifying an amino acid with a redundant codon specifying the same amino acid

Question 20

What is the role of tRNA during translation?

Accepted Answer

It carries amino acids to the ribosome and matches its anticodon to the mRNA codon

Gene Expression: From DNA to Protein

Study Guide - Practice Questions